No Loyalty, No Citizenship

            With the moratorium on building in West Bank settlements terminated, Israel has taken an even greater, though primarily symbolic, step forward by requiring non-Jewish citizens to pledge an oath of loyalty to Israel.

            The measure has come under fire from Arab advocacy groups, like Adalah. The bill affects an Arab minority, which is already considered as “second-rate” by many. One Arab lawmaker said that the bill is intended “to solidify the inferior status of Arabs by law”. Another advocacy group stated that the legislation is just one factor contributing to a “terrifying” atmosphere for Arabs. I find this to be ironic, as the Arabs in Israel have been known to support Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organizations operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It appears that they can dish it out, but can’t take it.

            I feel that the measure was a great idea, as loyalty to the Jewish state is not very strong among Israel’s Arab minority. Many members of Israel’s Arab minority comfort Israel’s enemies, encouraging their actions. For instance, some Arab groups continue to mourn the Nakba, which is in support of a Palestinian state instead of a Jewish state. Fortunately, there are efforts in the Israeli parliament to punish those participate in this treasonous act.

The loyalty bill was backed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who belongs to the nationalist party Yisrael Beitenu. Yisrael Beitenu has questioned the loyalty of Israel’s Arab minority in the past; the party has received a great deal of support for their position on these maters. Lieberman proposed revoking the citizenship of anyone who refused to swear loyalty to Israel as a Jewish state. With more politicians like Lieberman, Israel may have a chance to actually expel members of the Arab minority who present themselves as anti-Jewish. I give my full support to Yisrael Beitenu, because slowly but surely they can solve the Arab problem in Israel and provide the foundation for a strong Jewish state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Peace talks with the Palestinians have been strained by the passage of this bill. The refusal to extend the moratorium on building in the West Bank has contributed to this strain, as well. Both of these measures are baby steps in the overall attempt to secure Israel, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as a Jewish state, which Arab minorities must be forced to respect. I believe that under the leadership of Avigdor Lieberman and Yisrael Beitenu, Israel can eradicate traitorous, spying, Palestinian-supporting Arabs. We can only hope that Yisrael Beitenu receives more support in the coming years.

By: Adam Ondo